Boston College Fires Women's Basketball Coach

Joanna Bernabei-McNamee out after 8 seasons with the Eagles

Mar. 2, 2026 at 7:39pm

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Boston College has parted ways with women's basketball head coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee, who had a 113-131 overall record over 8 seasons with the program. The 2025-26 season was particularly disastrous, with the team ranking near the bottom nationally in several key statistical categories.

Why it matters

Building a successful women's basketball program at a smaller school like Boston College has proven to be an immense challenge, but the administration will be under pressure to find a new coach who can turn the program around after years of struggles.

The details

Bernabei-McNamee was in the final year of her contract with Boston College. The team's performance declined significantly in recent seasons, culminating in a 5-25 record in 2025-26 that saw the Eagles rank near the bottom of Division I in several key statistical categories like field goal percentage, rebounding, and defense.

  • Boston College announced the decision to part ways with Bernabei-McNamee on Sunday, March 2, 2026.
  • Bernabei-McNamee had been the head coach of the women's basketball team for 8 seasons.

The players

Joanna Bernabei-McNamee

The former head coach of the Boston College women's basketball team, who had a 113-131 overall record over 8 seasons with the program.

Boston College

The private Jesuit research university located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, whose women's basketball team has struggled in recent years under Bernabei-McNamee's leadership.

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What’s next

Boston College will now begin a search for a new head coach to lead the women's basketball program and try to turn the team's fortunes around.

The takeaway

The difficulties of building a successful women's basketball program at a smaller school like Boston College have been on full display, as the administration now faces the challenge of finding the right coach to revive the struggling Eagles.